The European Year for Development: Women and Girls

Briefing 23-02-2015

Economic and political discrimination undermines women’s opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and marginalisation. International development cooperation recognises the importance of gender equality, to promote both human rights and sustainable development. Official aid focused on gender equality has tripled since 2002. The concrete situation of women and girls varies tremendously between countries and regions. Gender equality is a fundamental principle of European integration, and has been integrated in EU development cooperation. EU development aid focusing on gender equality doubled between 2009 and 2012. The EP has called for a strong focus on women and girls in the post-2015 development framework. Parliament has established internal structures to ensure that gender equality is 'mainstreamed' throughout its work.